Tea, which has the scientific name Camellia sinensis, belongs to the Theaceae family. It has two variants: the green tea and the black tea.

The tea plant is an evergreen shrub that can grow to a height of two meters or six feet. It is cultivated mostly in east Asia but is also located in Africa and the Middle East. The genus Camellia takes its name from Reverend George Kamel, Society of Jesus (1661-1706), who was born in Czechoslovakia and who became a botanist and a missionary to the Philippines.

Tea has its uses in both Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine.

As such, green tea extract is one of the most nutritious beverages in the world, filled with antioxidants that can nurture your health and wellness. At present, green tea is the most consumed beverage all over the planet aside from water.

List of known nutrients

Amino Acid

Caffeine

Catechin

Epigallocatechin Gallate

Fluoride

L-theanine

Oxalates

Phytonutrients

Polyphenols

Tannin

Theobromine

Theophylline

Medicinal uses for green tea extract

Green tea is good for weight-watchers. It provides for a speedier metabolism and fat oxidation, thereby burning unwanted body fat, and making it a good part of a weight-loss plan. In fact, green tea extracts that contain 208 milligrams of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been shown to have beneficial effects on body mass index, total antioxidant status, and lipid profiles.

It was also found that EGCG can increase the body’s fat-burning abilities by 33 percent, making it a favorite of professional athletes and bodybuilders.

Green tea can help regulate the body’s blood sugar and glucose level, thus preventing the onset of diabetes. In fact, drinking three to four cups of green tea daily can lower your risk of incurring type-2 diabetes.

Green tea has cancer-fighting and tumor formation-inhibiting abilities. Its polyphenol content is responsible for this, making green tea a purveyor of antioxidant properties, which is necessary to fight free radicals that cause a chain of reactions that lead to the development of cancer cells. Green tea can penetrate through cell walls and neutralize these free radicals.

Green tea can alleviate anxiety. Its l-theanine content does wonders to the brain, inducing a calming effect. It also provides mental focus and clarity. Research also showed that green tea’s calming effects can help alleviate the need for nicotine, thereby helping smokers quit.

Green tea extracts are also said to provide treatment for a handful of skin conditions such as insect or flea bites, rashes, and sunburns, among others.

Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties. Its polyphenol content helps address inflammation and swelling in the body and alleviate the symptoms of diseases such as arthritis.

Green tea has febrifuge properties. It can help regulate body temperature, which is important in staving off a fever.

Green tea is good for the skin, hair, and nails.

Body systems supported by green tea extract

Green tea is good for the cardiovascular system. It can help control cholesterol levels by lowering the presence of “bad” cholesterol or low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and increasing the amount of “good” cholesterol or high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in the body; a high cholesterol count in the body often leads to the development of heart ailments. It can also regulate blood pressure levels.

Green tea is good for the circulatory system. Its theobromine content regulates blood flow throughout the body. It prevents the formation of blood clots that can result in heart attacks and strokes. It also helps control the bleeding of wounds.

Green tea is good for the skeletal system. It protects the cartilage between bones and decreases the risk of bone deterioration. It can also lessen the risk of incurring Parkinson’s disease and osteoporosis.

Green tea is good for the digestive system. It addresses flatulence, prevents the onset of irritable bowel disease, and regulates the movements within the digestive tract. It can also inhibit the growth of esophageal, stomach, colon, and pancreatic cancer cells. In fact, in a recent study it was found out that men who regularly drank green tea had their chances of developing pancreatic cancer lessened by 37 percent.

Green tea is good for the excretory system. It protects the bladder from harmful free radicals. As a matter of fact, in a recent study, women who had urinary tract infection found that their symptoms decreased and the infection was cured faster when they added green tea into their daily diet. It can also address illnesses that affect the liver. People who drink an average of five cups of green tea every day are less likely to develop liver ailments.

Green tea is good for the male reproductive system. It lowers the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Ways to use green tea extract

Green tea extract, aside from being liquid in form, can also take the form of pills, which are more potent thatn an average cup of regular tea.

Nutritionists recommend a daily dose of 240 to 320 mg of polyphenols, while 100 to 750 mg of green tea daily are favorable.